Welcome to our new series that takes us traveling through the alphabet – one workout, #FitTip and recipe at a time. Check in every Wednesday to see what’s next on our alphabetized adventure in healthy living with FitStar Fitness A-Z!
Part 1: A, B, C – Work Your Abs, Use Your Bodyweight and Eat Carbs!
Part 2: D, E, F – Detox Details, Ease Into Exercise and Figure Out Fats
G is for Good (Morning)
Everyone is looking for the secret to kicking off the day on the right foot. Here at FitStar, we believe regular exercise is key. G is for Good Morning – our Freestyle Session that is the perfect way to jumpstart your day…and your metabolism. This 20-minute total body workout takes you through a range of exercises like elbow planks to pike presses to jumping jacks and side lunges. This perfect blend of cardio and strength training is sure to make you feel energized. And you know what? Good Morning is a FREE Session for all FitStars so there’s no excuse not to Make it Happen!
H is for Hydration
Ah, water. It’s refreshing, 100% natural and it’s the reason that H is for Hydration. Drinking water has been proven to be crucial to living a healthy lifestyle – it can help curb hunger, give your skin a natural glow, and energize your muscles. Unfortunately, many people find it boring to drink, especially when you’re aiming for eight or more glasses a day. It’s tough to always choose straight H2O when we’re constantly surrounded by sweeter, tangier or just more flavorful options — even if those options are usually packed with sugar, calories and/or a bunch of additives we know aren’t healthy. If your daily beverage routine has you bored, unhealthy or both, try some of these techniques to give your water a fresh new taste — naturally. Make an herbal tea that’s caffeine free, or add fruit to your water for a fresh twist. We love slices of citrus fruits together (mix up lemon, limes and orange slices) and sliced strawberries with a few fresh mint leaves. To go totally zen about your H2O intake, add cucumbers, lemon slices and mint leaves and BOOM: DIY spa water.
I is for Ice
Need another way to stay hydrated? I is for Ice (ice, baby)! There are so many ways to incorporate ice into your diet. It can be an awesome tool to give your hydration a boost – just freeze lemon slices or the fruit of your choice in ice cube trays or muffin pans to drop in your water for a frosty and fruity twist. Making a double batch of homemade bone broth or veggie stock and freezing half of it will help you stretch it for more meals. And, ice takes smoothies from Fruit Sippin’ Sludge to Dessert Drink For The Stars. We’re no stranger to smoothies here at FitStar, and even though we shared a tasty one last week (Jason Mraz’s Avocado Green Smoothie) we have two more we think you’ll love. A Paleo Vanilla Smoothie (you know what? Let’s call it a shake – it tastes that good.) from Paleo Hacks and a Berry Almond Smoothie from The Washington Post. Both of these are great options for breakfast, both are better (in our humble opinion) with ice.
Paleo Vanilla Milkshake
Ingredients
2 very ripe bananas, peeled and frozen
1 cup coconut milk, canned and full fat
pinch of salt
1 packet stevia
half a vanilla bean, scraped
handful of ice cubes
Instructions
1. In a high speed blender combine the bananas, coconut milk, salt, stevia and scraped vanilla bean.
2. If the mixture is not thick enough, add some ice and blend again until smooth.
3. Enjoy!
Makes two servings.
Nutritional Info: Calories 335 | Fat 21g | Protein 4g | Carbs 34g
Nutritional information provided by MyFitnessPal Recipe Calculator.
Berry Almond Smoothie
Ingredients
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk, or more as needed
1 cup unsweetened mixed berries, such as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, or more as needed (could use fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons hemp hearts (optional)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
2-3 ice cubes (optional)
Instructions
1. Combine the frozen strawberries and the cup of almond milk in a blender; puree for 1 minute or until smooth.
2. Working in two or three batches, add the frozen mixed berries, pureeing for 1 minute between each addition. Add splashes of almond milk if the mixture becomes too thick to blend.
3. Add the almonds, almond butter and hemp hearts, if using; puree for 15 seconds. Add the chia seed, if using; blend at low speed for 5 seconds.
4. Taste for texture; the consistency should be smooth and thick. If the smoothie seems thin, add frozen berries. Serve right away.
Makes 2 servings.
Nutritional info: Calories 270 | Fat 18g | Protein 7g | Carbs 26g | Fiber 6g
Nutritional information is provided by The Washington Post.
Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe to make sure your day starts with a Good Morning? Tell us in the comments below!
Keep Moving,
– Team FitStar
The post FitStar Fitness A-Z | Get A Good Morning, Hydration Help and Ice Is Nice appeared first on FitStar - Inspiring people to live healthier lives.